Take-down table



July 3, 192s. 1,615,827

v A. T. SHR/ABER TAKE DOWN TABLE Filed Jne 50. 1925` 2 Sheets-Sheet l Swanton July 3, 1928.

A. T. SHRADER TAKE DOWN TABLE Filed June 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR T. -SHRADERWOF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

TAKE-DOWN TABLE.

appncation mea `.nine so, 1925, serial No. 40,550.

This linvention presents a table of takedown, or knock-down, type particularly deability; (2) rigid union ofall of the ele-` ments which go to make up the table, when l the table is in assembled condition; (3) ease and rapidity with which the parts may be assembled anddisassembled; (4) absence of liability of any. ofthe elements from becoming lost or mislaid when .the parts have 2U been separated and arranged for storage purposes; and (5) provision. for the arrangement of the Vparts and their `maintenance in a most compact form for `storage and transportation purposes.

This invention, therefore, comprises certain novel combinations of parts correlated to answer the ,foregoing ,several requirements. More particularly expressed, the invention comprises: i

: i (A) A table whose top is composed of upper sections having their edges in a substantially abutting relation and lower members which cross the abutting edges of the loweri sections, together with legs `having shoulders below `their upper extremities and whose portions above said shroulders ex- -tend through the lower members and into the upper sections and are provided with fastening elements which engage therupper sections and are yadapted by relative rotative movemeiit of the shoulders and fastening element-s to act through the upper sections of the top to force the lower members ofthe4 top tightly upon the shoulders andtliereby unite all the parts into alrigid unitary structure; Y

(B) A table of take-down character comprising a top land legs, the top'having openings `and the legs having their upper rends provided with fastening elements which ,substantially form a. permanent part ofthelegs, sinceltliey are not detached in order to apply the legs to the top, or in removing the legs from the top, the legs having shoulders positioned below their upper ends, to beengaged by the underside of the top andthe portionsofthe legs above said shoulders, including` the fastening elements, being insertible into and removable from the openings in the top from theunderside of the top, and said fastening elements and legs being re1- atively adjustable by relative rotation thereof to set the fastening elements into holding relation With the top and to force the top and shoulders into a close engagement with each other;

(C) A table of takefdown character whose top is composed of upper sections and of lower members which cross the confronting edgesof the upper sections, and is provided with means for holding said sections and members in an assembled relation while the legs are being assembled with the top or are :being Separated from the top and which holding means are of such character as to permit the ready separation of the sections and removal ofthe members for storage purposes;

(D) table of take-down character having a top composed of separable upper sections and lower members and Valso having legs which are readily separable from the toptogether with fastening elements so correlated with the parts of the top and with the `legs that when the table is in an assembled condition, the top and legs will be rigidly united into alunitary structureand W en separatedmay belarranged in avery compact relation, the table also'comprising i means for holdingthe parts of the top in their stored relatlon and which means cooperates fwiththe lower members of the top to overcome any tendency of theupper members of the top to becomewarped, even when said upper members are made, as they should be for the sake of lightness of construction, oflthin material, which, therefore, isliighly susceptibleto a warping tendency, especially Whentlie table is subjected to ontsidey atmospheric. conditions.

The linvention further consists `in v certain details with relation to the construction of certain of its parts, calculated to carry out theobjects ofthe invention in a most advantageous manner. i

.In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein the several `purposes of the invention are,` carried out by means of most simple land practicable nature, and while I shall Malawi lil) describe said embodiment in detail I would have it understood that the invention is not restricted in all respects thereto and that changes may be made in details and that features of the invention may be embodied in specifically different forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by appended claims. In said drawmms:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the table, assembled for use,

Fig. 2 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the detail construction of the leg fastening means and how the parts assembled for use are secured in position thereby,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the table with a portion broken away to illustrate the construction of additional securing means,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the table as shownV in Figs. 1 and 3,

Fig. 5 is a side view of the table in its knock-down condition and reassembled in a compact package for storage or transportation, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the knock-down condition of the table as shown in Fig. 5.

The top here shown is composed of two longitudinal sections 10 and 11 whose edges are in an abutting relation when assembled, and battens or cross members 12 and 13 arranged at the ends of the table and crossing the junction at the abutting edges of the sections 10 and 11, beneath which the said cross members are arranged. All these parts are separable. y

This top is supported and all the parts thereof drawn tightly together and held rigidly in proper relation for use by the legs 14, theupper ends of which carry cooperating fastening means to extend through the table top sections and the transverse battens forming the top. As an example of one form of fastening means, the present embodiment shows a bolt 15, having a T head, threaded longitudinally in the upper end of each leg 14. The legs are preferably made of tubular metal and each have fitted and secured in'their upper ends a boss or plug 16, each boss having an intermediate iiange extending around the same to provide a shoulder or flange 16a projecting laterally from the respective legs 14 to be engaged by and to support the top.

The top sections are formed with apertures 17 at corners corresponding to the corners of the assembled table. These apertures 17 may be in the form of elongated slots made directly in the sections 10 and 11, but, where the sections are of wood or other relatively soft material, the apertures may be enlarged openings covered by a metal plate 18 counter-sunk in the sections, each plate being formed with a slot 17a to permitthe head of a T-bolt to be inserted therethrough, as shown in Fig. 2. After inserting the bolt 15 in the slots 17 from the underside of the top their heads are turned at right angles with respect. to the slots to be `received in a correspondinr recess 19 in the plate 18. Itis therefore o vious that when the heads of the bolts have been turned to register with the corresponding recesses 19 and have been seated in said recesses, the several parts composing the top may be rigidly unlted to each other and to the legs 14 by turning said legs, the parts of the top thereby being clamped between the shoulders 16a and the heads of the bolts. It is, of course, understood that the battens are formed with openings 20 which align with the apertures 17 and into which the upper end of the respective legs or the boss partially extends for the purpose of centering the legs in position and giving added strength to the construction. rlhe bolts 15 may be held in the boss against removal by pins 21 extending transversely through their inner ends.

To holdV the several parts which compose the top in an assembled relation while the legs are being applied, as well as to further reinforce the table when all the parts thereof have been assembled, means of suitable nature are provided for `securing the top sections 10 and 11 adjacent their abutting edges, and the lower' members or battens 12 and 13 to each other. The means here shown comprise lock-bolts 22 each of which is in the form of a T-head bolt having downwardly extending prongs on the ends of the arms of said head. The shank of the bolt is received between opposing notches in the abutting edges ofthe Sections 10 and 11, which form an o ening when the sections are assembled for tab 23, respectively, engage in depressions in said sections. There are preferably two of said lock-bolts 22, one extending through an opening in the center of each batten, wingnuts 24 being provided to hold the parts together. It will thus be seen that by tightening the wing-nut 24, the top sections and battens are clamped together along a medial line of the table, and may1 thereby be maintained rigidly in assem led position while the legs are being applied and tightened, or while said legs are being loosened and removed, as well the rigidity of the top when the parts are assembled. The provision of fastening elements for securing the top sections to the battens or lower members of the top along the medial line of said sections also contributes to the durability of the top as well to the lightness of the construction thereof, since they substantially reduce the tendency of the top sections to become warped when made of light material.

To knock-down or disassemble the table,

le purposes, and the prongs to slacken the bolts until the T-heads:

thereof can be removed` through the slots 17, the legs being thus disconnected, and

(2) toslacken the nutsQ-i inorder that the prongs 22 on the T-heads of theV bolts 22 may be disengaged from the top sections, so that the section and batten may be separated and taken apart. V

lVith parts thus disassembled they may be` rearranged to form a compactV bundle or package for easy transportation orV storage.

tThis is accomplished by arranging the sections 10 and 11 .face to` face (see Fig. 6)

and positioning the battens thereagainst one along each longitudinal side of the one of said sections. Thus the parts which form the top are held together in such a Way. asto overcome any tendency to Vwarping when they are in a stored relation. The lock-bolts are then positioned with 4their T-heads through aligned openings a located in the middle of the top sections 10 and 11 near the said edges thereof, and through the corresponding openingsfin the battens aligned with the Aopenings a whereby the sections and the battens may be initially secured together by tightening up on the wingnuts The legs 1-1V are then placed sidey by side in thespace between the 4tWobattens 12 and 13 and in juXta-relation with one of the top sections and are held inv place by two bars or strips of metal, or other material, disposed to extend transversely across and overlie the ends of the legs. The strips or straps 25 are secured at their ends by bolts, 2G removable extendingthrough the bat-tensV 12 and 13 and preferably7 but not necessar-` ily, through the sections l()O and 11, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The intermediate portions of the straps Q5 are offset outwardly to accommodate the thickness of the legs and these portions are further formed with slots 27 in which the flanges or shoulders 16a protrude, t thus securely maintaining the legs avainst displacement. For compactness, the the legs are alternately arranged so that there is two slots 26 in each strap 25. i

F or convenience in transporting the table,

a'handle 28 is provided at the center `of a longitudinal edge of one of said battens so that it will project upwardly into position to be readily grasped when the parts of the table are in the compact form shown inFigs.

5 and 6, but this handle will be out of the way and obscured when `the table is assem anged ends ofV by slaekening the bolts 15 until` the legs, can be removed, and, by slackening the nuts` 24; The operationv of assembling the table for useis equally simple,it being only necessary to assemble the top, insert the upper ends of" the legs therethrough and` tighten the bolts 15.by turning the legs, and in case y further rigidity is desired` for the top,

tighten the wing-nuts 24; When the table is assembled, the strap 25 maybe suspended from the underside of `the table top by the bolts 26 in order to prevent them. from` being misplaced.

Having now described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed 1. A take-down table comprising atop and a; leg; the top provided with an opening and the leg provided with a. shoulder to engage the underside of the top and` with: a fastening element having a laterally extending head above said shoulder,.the shoulder and head being relatively adjustable by relative rotation thereof to clamp the top removably to `the leg and the head of the fastening element being settable into a position` in which it may be insertedu through the opening in the top andz alsosettable into a` position` with relation tosuch opening in which it will engage the top atv a place adjacent. the opening, and said top having at the latter place achannelto receive thehead and prevent rotation of the top with the shoulder.

21A take-down table comprising a top and a leg; the legA having an internally threaded member mounted at the upper end, said memberhaving a shoulder below its upper end to` form a rest for the `top,.the leg also having a fastening element which forms a-permanent part ofthe internally threaded member and is screwed therein andprojects thereabove and has its upper end provided with a lateralfprojection; andthe top havingan opening to receive the portionof the internally threaded member above the shoulder andthe-portion of the fastening element projecting from said member, and also having al Vchannel adjacent said opening into whichthe lateral projection of the fastening element may be seated by a partial rotation of the fastening element,'said channel and `lateral` projection co-operating to hold the fastening element against rotationwhen the leg is being turned todraw the top into a secured engagement with the shoulder.

3.A A take-down table comprising a top and a leg; the leg having a portionto engage the vunderside of` the top to support the same, and including afastening` element which projects above the said top engaging portion and has athreaded engagement-With the leg and is provided at its upper end with a lateral projection; and the top having an opening through which the fastening,Y elelilin ment is insertible from the underside of the top in assembling the leg and top and also having a channel adjacent said opening, the said channel being positioned to receive the lateral projection Jfrom the fastening element, respectively, when `the leg has been assembled with the top and has been given a partial rotation, the lateral projection and channel co-operating to hold the fastenin element against rotation with the leg an thereby enabling the top and the top-engaging portion of the leg to be drawn into a secure engagement with each other by rotation of the legs.

4. A take-down table comprising a top formed of sections and provided with members which extend across the confronting edges of said sections, and supporting legs whose upper ends are provided with relatively movabledevices co-operating to secure the top, cross members and legs removably together, said sections being adapted to be arranged face to face in juxta-relation when in knock-down condition, with the crossmembers positioned against the outer face of one of said sections and along opposite sides thereof to provide a space between the members, in which the leg may be positioned side by side against one of the sections, and straps to extend transversely across the legs when so arranged for packing, and means for maintaining said straps, members and sections in said compacted relation.

5. A take-down table, in knock-down condition for storage and transportation, comprising a .table-top, battens for the top separable therefrom and arrangedlongitudinally along the side edges of one face of the top, separable supporting legs attachable to the top, when the table is assembled, and arranged on and parallel with the top between said battens, and straps connecting said battens and spaced from the top to overlie said legs and maintain the same in position, and means for binding the parts together.

6. A take-down table, in knock-down condition for storage or transportation, comprising table top sections arranged face to face, battens for the top separable from the latter and positioned against the outer face of one of said sections and along opposite sides thereof, said battens being'adapted to extend across confronting edges of said top sections in the assembled table, separable supporting legs for the table lying between the battens and parallel with and against one ofsaid sections, and straps connecting said battens or overlying said leg therebetween to maintain the same in position, and means for binding the parts together.

7'. A take-down table, in knock-down condition `for storagev or transportation, conrprising table top sections arranged face to face, battens for the top separable from the for binding the battens and sections to.

gether, said bolts being also engageable between the confronting edges of the top sections while extending through the battens when the table is assembled, for binding the parts together.

8. A take-down table, in knock-down con dition for storage and transportatiomcomprising a tabletop, battens for the top separable therefrom and arranged longitudinally along the side edges on one face of the top, separable supporting legs attachableto the top, when the table is assembled, and arranged on and parallel with the top between said battens, and straps connecting said battens and spaced from the top to overlie said legs and maintain the same in position, and means for binding the parts together, vsaid strap having slots therein in which projections on said legs extend for holding the latter against displacement. Y

9. A take-down table, in knock-down condition for storage and transportation, comprising a table-top, battens for the top separable therefrom and arranged longitudinally along the side edges on one face of the top, separable supporting legs attachable to the top, when the table is assembled, and arranged on and parallel with the top between said battens, and strapsA connecting said battens and spaced from the top to overlie said legs and maintain ythe same in position, means for binding the parts together, and a handle on the side edge of one of said battens.

10. In combination, a table'provided with a vseries of openings, legs for supporting said table and adapted to be. quickly attached to and detached therefrom, each of said legs comprising as a part thereof a boss having a shouldered portion for engaging the underside of theV table, said boss being interiorly screw-threaded and a. clamp threaded to said boss, said clamp constituting a portion of said leg and adapted to be inserted through said openings, said clamp and leg heilig relatively adjustable iu a vertical direction whereby the rotative action of the leg serves to thread the clamp downwardly into tight engagement with the upper surface of said table to thereby secure the table top and legs together.

11. A table leg fastener comprising a plug secured to the upper extremity of said leg, a clamp threadedly engageable in said plug and constituting an inse arable extension of said leg, said boss and e amp adapted to be inserted through openings provided in a table from the underside thereof, said legs and clamp being relatively adjustable in a vertical direction by a rotary movement of said leg and boss to thereby secure the table and leg together.

l2. A table construction including a table top having leg openings, aperturedplates secured over the openings, legs for said table, each of said legs having a flange eX` tending therearound adjacent to its upper end and having a reduced portion above said flange itted in one of said openings, a threaded member extending into the reduced portion o each leg and engaging the plate associated 4therewith vwhereby said threaded member is adapted to move the leg towards the table top to set up a binding action between the flange and under surface pf the table top upon rotative action of the gl. A table construction including a table top having leg openings, apertured recessed plates` positioned over the openings and lying Hush with the table top, said plates bein secured Vover the openings, legs for said tale, each of said legs` having a flange extending therearound adjacent to its u per end and having a reduced portion a ove said ange fitted in one of said openings, a threaded member extending into the reduced portion of said leg and engaging the plate associated therewith whereby said threaded member is adapted to move the leg towards the table top to set up a binding action between the flange and under surface of the table top upon rotative action of the leg.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

ARTHUR T. SHRADER. 

